Annual Review of Physiology, vol. 50.

Annual Review of Physiology, vol 50 The Annual Review of Physiology provides the reader with about 50 short, concise literature reviews of both basic and applied physiological research. These reviews are grouped by subject area, such as cardiovascular physiology and renal physiology, with each subject area having its own section editor and introduction. This arrangement gives each group of reviews a coherent unity. Each volume of the review has a prefatory chapter that presents the autobiographical musings of a world-renowned physiologist.

Usually this text provides the physical therapist with a number of relevant review articles, particularly in the areas of cardiovascular physiology, respiratory physiology, muscular physiology, and neurophysiology. Volume 50, the most recent volume, is no exception; it contains 13 reviews that would be of interest to physical therapists with specialized interests.

The editors provide eight articles on the neural control of the cardiovascular system. Five particularly interesting articles are entitled "Medullary Basal Sympathetic Tone," "Peripheral Sympathetic Neural Activity in Conscious Humans," "Central Coordination of Respiratory and Cardiovascular Control in Mammals," "Central Organization of Sympathetic Cardiovascular Response to Pain," and "Cardiovascular Control in Spinal Man."

Included are four articles on the kinetics of carbon dioxide exchange in lungs, blood, kidneys, muscle, and liver and one article on the kinetics of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and pH control. Also included are an index of the preceding four volumes of the annual review and a list of relevant reviews that can be found in this year's other Annual Review publications.

The emphasis of the prefatory chapter has been changed in this year's text. In the past, this chapter consisted of the personal reflections of famous physiologists on their own life work. It was wonderful bedtime reading. This year the prefatory chapter shifts its emphasis to present a state-of-the-art view of a subject, posing "important unanswered questions" and speculating "a bit about future developments." Despite the fact that this year's chapter is by Sir Andrew Huxley, on muscular contraction, I prefer the old format.

In summary, a few therapists with specific interests in cardiovascular physiology, respiratory physiology, and the molecular basis of muscle contraction will want to have their library order this volume. This particular audience will want to read many of the reviews in the text; however, it is not a text with a wide general interest for most physical therapists.